I think you should try restoring to an earlier time. You won't lose your files, just any new programs.

I use Spybot on my work computer & it doesn't get rid of some of the registry entries. I haven't had any trouble with Pest Patrol getting rid of them. Yes, it is true that you have to renew every year, but it's certainly worth it.

Jean, do your other programs catch things that Pest Patrol doesn't? I never heard of AdAware. I'll have to check it out.

Melanie

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"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Gandhi

I've had both Ad-Aware and SpySweeper find things that PestPatrol doesn't. I've read somewhere that the programs scan for different things, so that's why one will pick up what the other doesn't. XCleaner also finds stuff.

Don't forget if you look into Ad-Aware go to lavasoftusa.com. If you just do a search for Ad-Aware it will bring up another product is a freebie and not as good. The Ad-Aware you get on lavasoft's website has both free and paid for subscriptions. I always get the paid for ones since they usually include better service and more features.

I just did an update an hour ago or so, with my Webroot SpySweeper -- and NOTHING whatsoever, is showing up on it. It's worthless and a waste of money, IMO. I'm trashing it ASAP, and getting Pest Patrol!!!

Here's the link for anyone who wants to REALLY find out what adware and spyware is on your computer (for free)! But as someone mentioned, you have to manually remove the items found by the online scan -- or purchase the product.

Becky, thanks for the heads up on this problem. I renewed my Norton about a month ago and thankfully nothing like this happened, but I am so quick to click sometimes that I may have been caught if it did.

As for all the discussion about adware and spyware - my boyfriend is fanatical about not letting this stuff in, and he has set up our firewall and other stuff so that it's never been a problem. We have cable internet and I have had no trouble with adware or spyware whatsoever. So I do think these spyware-catching programs are good for getting rid of things that might already be lurking on your computer, but there are also ways to keep the stuff out in the first place. Lucky for me he's adamant about it because it means I don't have to do the research myself!

Well... I still can't get my automatic LiveUpdate working (nor my Task Scheduler service). I posted elsewhere about everything I've tried -- but if adware/spyware is responsible for 'not enough resources' -- then it sure is well-hidden. Tigger, you're the second person to tell me they've gone through the same thing with Norton. I am using the 2003 program (updated through LU) -- but my Task Scheduler worked just fine until recently. I already have the most recent LiveUpdate version, so that's not the issue. NOTHING seems to be able to get my Task Scheduler working again.

I can't help believing that it's a combination of a Windows HotFix and something about the LU program.

Meanwhile, I got rid of the adware and spyware that Pest Patrol found -- though the programs involved surprised me! One was 'WeatherBug' -- which has been sitting on my computer for 2 years (uninstalled/unused) and never set off a pest search alarm before. And another involved a speech program in my computer, that I don't ever use. I really started wondering about these alleged adware/spyware items... but I went ahead and removed them anyway.

Webroot (SpySweeper) ignored my unhappy comments (by e-mail), and sent me a free upgrade to their newest version of the program. I installed the new version -- but I'm still unconvinced that this program is worth purchasing. It has lots of 'bells and whistles' that the older version lacked -- but (somehow) fewer DEFINITIONS/FINGERPRINTS than the older version had, also...

PLEASE -- those of you who recommend other adware/spyware cleaner products -- could you post the LINKS for us? Then we don't have to risk picking up MORE garbage, by using an online search engine! ('search' is major source of unwanted adware/spyware)

After I learned that Internet Explorer was full of security holes (and got tired of the constant pop-up ads even with pop-up stopper) we switched to Mozilla Firefox. Not a single pop-up has appeared since then and they'll automatically export your IE settings and bookmarks when you download the browser.

I probably sound like an ad for them, but it's free and we really like it. I went back today to IE for one thing (which turned out to be unnecessary) and immediately got pop-ups. Sheesh! I'll never do THAT again!

Melanie, my LiveUpdate subscription is current, and I'm still able to use LU manually (by choosing to start it). My problem with the Task Scheduler continues, after trying everything that Symantec suggested to me. I wrote them again.

Thanks for the info. on other browsers. I have the MSN browser, but don't like it; and use IE instead. I wonder if Netscape and Mozilla Firefox would be compatible with MSN? I don't have a problem with pop-ups; just with adware/spyware picked up from search engines like Google and Yahoo and Dogpile.

I just received Consumer Reports (the magazine) for September 2004. They have tested and compared antivirus programs, spamware programs and spyware programs. Results are interesting. Some of the products mentioned here were not included in the tests, but most of them were.

Originally posted by Katsmom:Meanwhile, I got rid of the adware and spyware that Pest Patrol found -- though the programs involved surprised me! One was 'WeatherBug' -- which has been sitting on my computer for 2 years (uninstalled/unused) and never set off a pest search alarm before. )

Katsmom, "WeatherBug" isn't spyware or adware, it's a free program that can be set to constantly tell you all about the weather in your town (or anyplace else, for that matter). I have it on my computer, and it has never caused me any problem.-------------------------------------------------Ok, I just went to the PestControl site, paid for the download, and ran it. That "WeatherBug" you mentioned, Katsmom, is actually "WeatherCast"--a different program. I know it's not the same, because PP showed WeatherCast on my computer also, I deleted it, and my WeatherBug is still working...

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"Once you give up integrity, the rest is easy." Anonymous